Tech Tips for Greening your Business

1. Use Sleep Settings on Computers to Reduce Electricity Use.

All computer operating systems have power-management settings that allow computers to go to sleep or stand-by mode when not in use and reduce the amount of electricity they use.

It's free and easy to do!

2. Buy Smart Power Strips

Smart power strips are electricity saving devices that deal with things like printers and scanners that stay on, even if you put your computer to sleep or shut it down. When you power down your computer, the smart strip automatically shuts down the power to your computer's peripherals as well.

They will pay for themsleves within a few months and are easy to use.

3. Change Settings on Your Printer to Print Duplex

Change the setting on your computer so that you print on both sides of the paper. Paper is the most wasteful area of your office.

You need a printer that is built to do that. If you do, it's easy! You can click a box in the print dialog box.

4. Turn it off

Your display screen is the biggest power consuming device, especially it it's one of the older CRT monitors. Today's flat panels consume less than half the power of older CRT screens. Hit the display's power button when you are going to be away from your computer for a while or overnight.

5. Get Rid of Those Screen Savers

Most screen savers are not power savers! Screen savers were designed to keep screens from "burning in" and are actually power wasters. For the lowest power consumption, set your screen saver option to 'blank' which will save your screen and power.

6. Optimize your Computer's Performance

If your computer takes forever to boot up and seems to be getting slower for just about everything, not only is it aggravating, you're wasting energy. Anything that's running in the background is expending your computer's resources and wasting energy at the same time. if you haven't had your computer serviced, it's worth it to reduce the power consumption and your blood pressure!

7. Use your laptop

Laptops are more efficient users of electricity, so if you have a desktop and a laptop, us the laptop more often.

8. Dispose of old technology properly

Never dispose of any electronic devices by throwing them away, as the toxic waste in all electronics is substantial, and they also contain valuable metals that can be reclaimed and recycled. Take them to Tynes' Bay on eWaste Recycling Day. The next ones are on 13th July and 9th November, 2013.

9. Keep it Digital

Scan documents so that they can be e-mailed. Do not print every email, read it on the screen. Set-up folders on your computer to store documents. And don't forget to regularly back up your files!

10. Use Video conferencing

Video conferencing not only saves money by eliminating travel and lodging costs, it also reduces the harmful emissions and fossil fuels accociated with travel. Since everything which is discussed in a video conference is saved and downloaded, there is no need for the huge amounts of paper that are often given out at traditional conferences.

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